| > `Now consider the following: there is nothing particularly strong in Islam’s holy text against drinking alcohol, just a rather vague recommendation of avoidance of intoxication while facing the creator.` Sorry but while this may be well meant from the author it is just wrong. I'm arabic native speaker and can provide more details. First the quran was revealed in a span of 23 years. And when dealing with drinking, the quran took a step by step approach. At first, a general warning was given to forbid Muslims from attending prayers while in a
drunken state (Quran, 4:43). "O you who believe! Do not approach the prayer while you are drunk, so that you know what you say" Then a later verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad which
said that while specifically alcohol had some medicinal benefits, the negative effects of it outweighed the good (Quran, 2:219). "They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is gross sin in them, and some benefits for people, but their sinfulness outweighs their benefit.”" Finally, “intoxicants and gambling” were called “abominations of Satan’s handiwork,” which
warned people with self-consciousness to not turn away from God and forget about prayer,
and Muslims were ordered to abstain (Quran, 5:90-91). "90: O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, idolatry, and divination are abominations of Satan’s doing. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. 91: Satan wants to provoke strife and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer. Will you not desist?" The Prophet Muhammad also instructed his companions to avoid any intoxicating
substances (paraphrased), “if it intoxicates in a large amount, it is forbidden even in a small
amount.” For this reason, most observant Muslims avoid alcohol in any form, even small
amounts that are sometimes used in cooking. |
Do you know how this is resolved or interpreted?